RP rebels demand $10m for release of U.S. hostage

RP rebels demand $10m for release of U.S. hostage

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP): The Abu Sayyaf rebels have
demanded US$10 million for the release of an American kidnapped
this week in the southern Philippines despite a U.S. refusal to
pay any ransom, negotiators said on Friday.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels, who earlier threatened to behead
Jeffrey Schilling, pledged not to harm him while negotiations
continue. They asked that American food and medicine be sent
quickly for the 24-year-old resident of Oakland, California, who
has serious health problems, according to U.S. officials.

"You must send today medicine and food because you know this
American doesn't eat cassava," rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya told
newly appointed government negotiator Roland Sarmiento.

The two spoke in a telephone conversation broadcast over the
Radio Mindanao Network.

Sabaya did not mention the $10 million request or make any
other new formal demands in the conversation, although he had
earlier said the group would present its demands on Friday.

The rebels are expected to seek the release of several Arab
terrorists being held in U.S. jails.

The U.S. State Department has ruled out paying ransom or
making any deals with the rebels and has said the negotiations
are the Philippine government's responsibility.

The Abu Sayyaf group is still holding six other foreigners and
12 Filipinos after freeing six Westerners earlier this week for a
reported $6 million bankrolled by Libya.

On Thursday night, Sabaya contacted a negotiator who worked
for the release of the earlier hostages and made t4he $10 million
ransom demand, a member of the negotiating team said.

He had earlier said that "one American is worth 10 Europeans"
in terms of ransom.

Sabaya also asked on Friday for the inclusion in the
negotiations of Lee Peng Wee, who helped arrange about $4.5
million in ransom reportedly paid for the earlier release of nine
Malaysians, negotiators said.

The request for Lee's involvement suggests that the rebels
plan to follow a similar approach with Schilling's kidnapping in
which a ransom would be paid by third parties, allowing the U.S.
government to maintain its official no-ransom policy.

Sabaya also insisted that North Korea, China, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia and Libya take part in the negotiations -- a demand
Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado called "really out
of this world."

Sabaya pledged that "while we are conducting talks ... we will
not consider any violence against Mr. Schilling," but warned that
"if we lose our patience, then the U.S. will really regret it."

Philippine negotiators hope the Abu Sayyaf will release the
six Westerners this weekend, including two French television
journalists.

Shilling is being held by a different Abu Sayyaf faction which
was responsible for the kidnapping of about 50 schoolchildren and
teachers in March on neighboring Basilan island. The group
beheaded two teachers after the United States ignored their
demand for the release of Arab terrorists, and also tortured and
killed a Catholic priest.

Sabaya said the rebels believe Schilling is a CIA agent
because he introduced himself as a Muslim convert but knew little
about Islam.

In Oakland, Schilling's mother, Carol, said her son converted
to Islam several years ago and visited the Philippines partly
because of a longtime interest in the region, but stayed after he
fell in love with a Muslim woman, Ivi V. Osani.

Osani's mother, Aida Ajijol, said Osani and rebel spokesman
Sabaya are second cousins. Sabaya had invited the couple to visit
the rebels' camp on Jolo, she said.

Osani said they agreed to go, not realizing that Schilling
would be kidnapped.

Critics have warned that the large ransom payments to the
rebels will encourage more kidnappings in the impoverished
southern Philippines.

The Abu Sayyaf say they are fighting for an Islamic state but
Philippine officials say they are a loose group of bandits
thriving on kidnapping and piracy.